BAY CITY, MI—A group of approximately 30 demonstrators marched in front of the Bay County Building in downtown Bay City Monday, Aug. 26, chanting, "Take a vote, not a vacation"— part of a message to Michigan legislators, out of session since Aug. 14, to accept Medicaid funding per the federal government’s Affordable Care Act, legislation for which Governor Snyder has declared his support.

The demonstration lasted from mid-morning until around 11:30 a.m., when the demonstration ended due to weather concerns.

Chanting "Take a vote, not a vacation," picketers on Monday morning protest in front of the Bay County Building in favor of expanded health care. Bernie Eng | MLive.com

Marchers said there are many Michigan citizens (500,000, according to organizers) that could benefit from accepting the funds, which would be disbursed Jan. 1, and were insistent that a delay would further burden Michigan residents currently in need of health care.

Brent Pilarski, a business manager for Laborers’ Local 1098, was a principal organizer of the demonstration, although he described it as a “grassroots” event that was unaffiliated with the union. Another representative of the group described the protestors as a collection of allied labor unions, progressives and concerned citizens.

“A lot of these people are laborers, a lot of these people are health care workers,” Pilarski said, noting the diversity of the protestors. “A lot of these people are just walking up off the street.”

A press release from organizers noted projections made by the University of Michigan that health care expansions could cut the number of uninsured in Michigan by 93 percent over the next six years. Organizers also stated that uncompensated care, largely from “uninsured patients using hospital emergency rooms,” would cost around $2 billion, though the release did not note a time period.

Bay City 5th Ward Commissioner Jim Irving was one of the marchers present, and was vocal about the issues at stake.

“Everybody should be entitled to health care,” he said. He then stopped and said, "No, it’s not an entitlement, it’s a right.”

He later added, “I’m sure Sen. (Mike) Green and everyone down there (in Lansing) has great health care."

Another representative of the group said similar protests have been held around Michigan, including Livonia, Grand Rapids, Grand Blanc, Monroe and Muskegon. Another protest is planned for Aug. 27 in Lansing, when the state legislature is scheduled to be back in session.

— Sam Easter is a general assignment reporter covering the Bay City and Saginaw area. He can be reached at seaster@mlive.com.